This is not Germany. It is a balkanized cesspole of heterogenous evil, lorded over by black racism, islamic imperialism and communist government/media. You are stupid to compare it to Nazi Germany. Damn fools and cancerous malignant dwarfs that you are. There is not 2 cents of white racial nobility in America, This drone state is made for a feudalist future with white as serfs and slaves. The few of us with the intelligence and courage to fight the black racist communist police state. are nothing like the nazis,. We are inferior to them. But we are NOT inferior to the minority racist micromanaging scum who now rule us. We will beat you minority parasite bums, thugs and genocidal cretins. We are not capable of being nazis because we dont have the brain power. But we do have more than enough to defeat the one party democrat/communist government. Hold on. We are coming! You degenerate, depraved, half brained thugocrats , the spearhead of the new 4th world afro america. This is a protracted war to the death. We will WIN!

And while it is easy for anyone to find fault with anything, I do think a discussion of the German concept of 'Volk' ...a unique German idea of the mystical mix of 'Blood, race, and nation' would add to student's understanding of the appeal of the Nazis. It is certainly an Idea that was invoked by the Nazis whenever possible : Volkswagen, Volksturm, etc. We generaly simply thing that Volk='Folk' but to the Germans, who prior to Bismark, had no one single country, it was an important concept and one the Nazi's played like a Stradivarius'

“ Use clever, concise, large and striking posters. In most areas they should regularly use the same colors. In so far as the police allow, the preferred color is the familiar red of the National Socialist posters in Munich. Despite the high cost, effective public posters are by the best and most effective method of announcing a meeting, and therefore the cheapest as well. For examples of poster texts, see the appendix to Book I of &quot;Mein Kampf.”

Quote from 1927 Guidebook for Nazi Propaganda Writers

What does this source tell us about the use of propaganda by the Nazi Party in the 1920s?

For most of the 1920s (he died in 1929) Stresemann was the Foreign Minister for Germany. His job was to negotiate treaties and agreements with other countries. He was VERY good at his job…

A few things helped him succeed:

He was smart. Stresemann had studied philosophy and literature at Berlin University and had a PhD in economics.

He was from the Right-wing (but moderate) Liberal Party so he appealed to a wide range of parties in the Reichstag.

The economies of many European countries were beginning to recover from the war. This made countries less tense and more willing to discuss potentially tricky issues.

America was going through an economic ‘boom’. France and Britain owed the US money for wartime loans. Some US politicians wanted to make sure that Europe recovered so that France and Britain could pay back the money they owed!

During the Weimar Period Germany celebrated a new openness and went through a dramatic and unprecedented cultural revival.

Berlin became a world capital of cinema, theatre, art, and literature.

Stars like Marlene Dietrich, film directors like Fritz Lang and playwrights such as Brecht made Germany the centre of avant garde (cutting-edge) culture. People flocked from New York and London to witness the remarkable developments going on inside Germany.

Many Germans still resented the reparations and loss of land. The Dawes and Young Plans made repaying the reparations easier but many felt that Germany should not have been given the bill in the first place!

Germans also looked across their borders to land that HAD been theirs and contained people who HAD been their neighbours. This sense of a diminished Germany still caused feelings of anger and resentment.

The military limitations imposed by the Treaty still angered many Germans.

Many of the artists in Weimar Germany had served in the army during World War One and had been horrified by their experiences of war. They used their art to criticise military values and political leaders. More dangerously, they blurred lines of race and sexuality. Depictions of homosexuality, the love of ‘black’ Jazz music and mocking satire were key features of Weimar culture.

This was too much, too soon for many Germans who felt that everything they valued in German culture was being attacked by these decadent ‘artists’

True or False: The Chancellor was the most powerful person in Germany.

True or False: Under the Weimar Constitution the leader of the largest party in the Reichstag automatically became the Chancellor.

Both are false. The Weimar Constitution (1919) gave extraordinary powers to the President (including the power to appoint and dismiss the Chancellor).

The Chancellor was like a Prime Minister. The President was more like a King. The President had the power under Article 48 of the Constitution to shut down the Reichstag and “Rule by Decree” (which means “What I say is the law, IS the law!”

70.
Why was the fact that Hindenburg was the German President in 1933 a problem for Hitler’s ambitions to become Chancellor?

HINT: There were two main reasons why Hitler would have had sleepless nights because of President Hindenburg…

Hindenburg was a genuine war hero who been Germany’s military leader during World War One. He shared the army’s suspicion of Hitler. In fact, he disliked Hitler intensely.

Hitler had challenged Hindenburg for the position of President in 1933. Hitler lost by 19 million votes to 13 million. This meant that Hindenburg would be President until 1940 (a seven year term).

Even in 1933 there were signs that the worst of the Depression was over. Hitler knew that if he had to wait until a change of President to become Chancellor the chances are the Nazi Party would no longer be around!

71.
Why did Hindenburg appoint Hitler to the position of Chancellor in 1933?

It is history, so there has to be more than one reason 

Business Pressure

Leading industrialists and businesses put pressure on Hindenburg to appoint the staunch anti-communist Hitler to the position of Chancellor.

Restore Credibility of the Reichstag.

Hindenburg had already had to use Article 48 to pass the unpopular spending cuts proposed by Bruning. Only the Nazi Party had the electoral support to be effective in the Reichstag.

72.
Why did Hindenburg appoint Hitler to the position of Chancellor in 1933?

It is history, so there has to be more than one reason 

Trouble in the streets

The SA were causing unrest. Battles between communists and Nazis convinced many Germans that strong leadership was needed to restore order.

Scheming of Von Papen and Hindenburg.

Hindenburg was still concerned about giving too much power to Hitler. Franz Von Papen was a former Chancellor and close friend of Hindenburg. He came up with the plan of making Hitler Chancellor but appointing Conservatives loyal to Von Papen in key positions in the Reichstag Cabinet (the most important ministers)

73.
With Von Papen as Vice Chancellor and Conservatives in Cabinet they could surround and control Hitler!

Hitler was appointed Chancellor on January 30, 1933. There are four steps he needed to go from the insecure position of Chancellor ~ remember there were 13 from 1919 to 1933! ~to being the Fuhrer (Supreme Leader) of Germany.

The Reichstag (the German Parliament) burned down. A Dutch Communist named van der Lubbe was caught red-handed with matches and fire-lighting materials. Hitler used it as an excuse to arrest many of his Communist opponents, and as a major platform in his election campaign of March 1933. The fire was so convenient that many people at the time claimed that the Nazis had burned it down, and then just blamed the Communists. Modern historians, however, tend to believe that van der Lubbe did cause the fire, and that Hitler just took advantage of it.

Hitler held a general election, appealing to the German people to give him a clear mandate. Only 44% of the people voted Nazi, which did not give him a majority in the Reichstag, so Hitler arrested the 81 Communist deputies (which did give him a majority).

The SA were the thugs who Hitler had used to help him come to power. They had defended his meetings, and attacked opponents. By 1934 there were more than a million of them.

Historians have often wondered why Hitler turned on the SA. But Hitler was in power in 1934, and there was no opposition left - the SA were an embarrassment, not an advantage.

Also, Rohm, the leader of the SA, was talking about a Socialist revolution and about taking over the army. This was troubling business leaders (who had supported Hitler) and the army (who Hitler needed if his plans for Lebensraum etc were to be achieved).

On the night of 30 June 1934 Hitler ordered the SS to kill more than 400 SA men.

When Hindenburg died, Hitler took over the office of President and leader of the army (the soldiers had to swear to die for Adolf Hitler personally).

Hitler called himself

'Fuhrer'.

82.
Four steps: Four obstacles removed Reichstag Fire Use power of state (radio, posters, newspapers) to spread anti-communist propaganda. Call for a clear mandate to deal with communist threat to Germany!! Outcome: Voter support goes from 33% to 44% (52% with support of Nationalist Party) Enabling Act Hitler uses threats and intimidation (including banning and arresting Communist Party members) to pass the Act (Law) Outcome: Hitler has the power to “rule by decree” – a Dictator! Night of the Long Knives Hitler removes the threat posed by Rohm (who was complicating relationships with business and the army). SA brought under control. Outcome: Opponents removed (including some politicians), Hitler’s ruthlessness is revealed (sends message to opponents), the army is impressed by Hitler’s decisiveness, the fiercely loyal SS replace the less reliable SA. Hindenburg’s Death The death of Hindenburg removes the only rival for influence in Germany at the time. Outcomes: Hitler declares himself the Fuhrer. Army swears a personal oath of loyalty to Hitler.

Foreign journalists still operated until 1939. Nazis did not control all media in Germany. Criticism from inside Germany could still be heard.

Sensitive to foreign criticism. Hitler reacted to strong criticism from overseas. Some Nazi leaders wanted to take stronger action against churches but Hitler restrained them. He was concerned about the reaction of foreigners.

Sensitive to internal criticism. The Nazis bowed to pressure from within Germany. When Germans found out about the mentally ill being sent to concentration camps they were horrified. The Nazi government changed this policy.

Hitler was an ineffective leader. Hitler was lazy and paid little attention to detail. He relied upon the ambitions and loyalty of deputies. This resulted in senior Nazis becoming involved an inefficient struggle for the Fuhrer’s approval. This meant that senior Nazis often saw each other as rivals rather than allies – weakening and dividing the government.

In spite of their best efforts not all Germans accepted and adopted Nazi goals, values and methods.

Private Opposition

Thoughts of women who resented the loss of freedoms they enjoyed during Weimar. Resentment of workers who resented the poor working conditions and loss of union representation.

Public Opposition

Youth voted with their feet. In 1939 the Hitler Youth had to be made compulsory because most young Germans showed little interest in the military exercises and obsession with discipline. Some groups – Edelweiss Pirates and Swing Movement – rejected Nazi values altogether. The Swing Bandits listened to black music (jazz!) and the Edelweiss Pirates stole guns and killed the Gestapo chief!

Violent Opposition

The JULY BOMB PLOT. As the war went from bad to worse a group of army officers turned against Hitler. Colonel von Stauffenberg left a briefcase bomb Hitler’s conference room. Hitler was wounded but not killed. He rounded up 5000 ‘conspirators’ and executed them.

93.
Of course, in 1933 the Nazis had more immediate concerns than how historians would judge their efforts over the next 12 years!

94.
If Hitler was to secure power there were three things to consider carefully …

Germany was still dealing with the Depression.

Issue: Economic Recovery

German history in recent years had been one of unrest, turmoil and violence. Potential opponents needed to be dealt with.

Issue: Control

Only 44% of Germans had voted for the Nazi Party in the last election. Loyalty to the Fuhrer would need to be actively encouraged.

The National Labour Service sent men to build major new road and rail networks (the famous autobahn motorway networks were built at this time).

Banned Trade Unions and replaced them with the Nazi-associated German Labour Front. This meant that workers could not go on strike for better conditions or pay. This allowed the Nazis to control the workforce without fear of organised opposition.

“ Control” is all about limiting the power of opponents. 56% of Germans had voted for other parties in the March 1933 election.

This was in spite of Hitler having huge advantages going into the election:

Appointed Chancellor in January 1933.

Reichstag Fire in February 1933.

Able to use State media to spread fear of communist terrorists in the March election.

100.
Nazi Germany: Control Concerns about political opponents Enabling Act bans other parties Concerns about the SA being out of control Night of the Long Knives Concerns about criticism inside Germany and ‘troublemakers’ like socialists, communists, trade unionists and church members Concentration Camps established from 1933 Concerns about general criticism or disloyalty Gestapo (Secret Police) and their network of informers Concerns about opposition in general

Resistance continued in spite of Nazi methods. In 1937 800 church leaders were arrested because of their opposition to Nazi interference in the Protestant Church.

The Nazis were unable to turn the full power of the state against some groups (particularly youth and some churches). They were concerned about how the German people would react if ‘their’ kind (instead of communists, Jews, unionists) were targeted.

As World War Two turned against the Nazis they began to lose control. People refused to do the “Heil Hitler salute” and hoarded food. Jokes about Hitler (illegal since 1933) became popular.

There were assassination attempts (July Bomb Plot)

103.
So what can we conclude? Nazi control methods worked well against unpopular sections of the population or against formal, organised opponents (such as political parties) However, it failed to end resistance completely and groups which had status or were important to German people (churches and their youth) still continued to resist the Nazis. In these cases the Nazis were reluctant to use the methods that had proven so effective against “undesirable” groups. As the war progressed active opposition grew more widespread.

“ Propaganda is a means to an end. Its purpose is to lead the people to an understanding that will allow it to willingly and without internal resistance devote itself to the tasks and goals of a superior leadership.”

“ Propaganda is a means to an end. Its purpose is to lead the people to an understanding that will allow it to willingly and without internal resistance devote itself to the tasks and goals of a superior leadership.”

What does this quote tell us about the limits of “controlling” opposition?

From 1933 the Nazi regime organised boards to buy all the food produced by farmers. This guaranteed them a market and an income.

Peasant Farms were protected by law. Banks could not seize them even if the farmers failed to pay their mortgage. This secured farm ownership for peasant farmers.

Reasons to be critical

Farmers had to sell their food to the boards. Enterprising farmers could not market their own produce directly to the customer.

Banks became less willing to lend money to farmers.

Under Nazi law the eldest child inherited farms. This was meant to keep people on the land and stop it being divided among too many people. It also meant that many younger children left to find work in the cities.

Some children did volunteer to join the Hitler Youth in its early years (50% of boys in 1933, 15% of girls)

Not successful

The Nazis had banned all other youth groups in 1933 so these figures were not really that impressive.

As the Nazis were expanding German territory in the late 1930s the Hitler Youth became more disciplined. Many youth disliked the new leaders. The new leaders were strict and uncompromising (no contact outside the Hitler Youth!).

In 1939 Membership was made compulsory (this tells us what?)

Groups of youth such as the ‘Swing’ movement and the Edelweiss Pirates resisted the Nazis

In 1942 the Gestapo broke up 28 groups of Youth who were causing problems for authorities.

Persecution got worse for all groups as the Nazi control of Germany grew stronger.

False: The Nazi regime stopped the execution of the mentally ill in 1941. They stopped because of the outcry from the German public.

148.
So why did the Nazis devote so many resources to the persecution of minorities?

Nazi Germany had many of the characteristics of a Totalitarian State.

Totalitarian States have a shared ideology (set of beliefs).

The Nazi beliefs were based upon Mein Kampf

In Mein Kampf Hitler described the ‘ideal’ German as strong, Aryan and able to serve the nation.

Nazi Values therefore defined a valuable human life along racial lines (and also based upon how ‘healthy’ they were).

‘ Weak’ people or ‘inferior’ races had no place in Nazi Germany.

149.
Minorities challenged Nazi Values People with hereditary illnesses were sterilised (300,000 people from 1934 – 1945) Nazi values of militarism and nationalism needed fit, strong Germans. 72,000 mentally ill people were exterminated (1939-1941) Challenged the idea that Germans were the Master Race. Homosexuals were sent to concentration camps. Challenged the Nazi belief in ‘traditional’ family values. 6 Million Jews were exterminated. 5 out of 6 Gypsies in Germany were exterminated. Nazi values of Aryan supremacy (Racism) called for a ‘pure’ Germany.